The 7 Experiment - Week 1 almost done!

I am almost done!  As I sit here and type I am on the last day of my food fast.  I have lived off the $47.25 food budget for the week (minus one molten lava cake).  It has been harder than I though, but also moved me more than I thought.

This first time we did this study about a year ago, I didn't choose to alter my diet in any way.  Instead I felt my excess at that time was brought on by disorganization in my kitchen, so I cleaned out my pantry and fridge.  Helpful - yes.  Sacrifice - not really.  Especially after going through this week.  However that is ok.  It still got me started on the path towards getting rid of excess.  This week has definitely been more of a challenge.  I am a little tired of peanut butter toast (I have had this at least once a day every day this week) and pasta.  I miss my snacks, and while I have been eating every meal, my tummy has been rumbling with hunger a little more than usual.

My husband asked me last night what I had taken away from this week, and I realized that I had really taken away much more than the last time.  I realized that it is hard to eat healthy on the budget I was given.  I was able to purchase some organic soups and pasta sauce, but my portions had to be very controlled and there was nothing left over for snacks.  My heart (and stomach) ached for those who live on this budget week after week.  I also realized that the support provided does not increase equally per person.  So while I was able to get $47.25 for my week, If I were buying for a family of four, it would go down to $39.50 per person.  I realize that buying in bulk makes it easier, but it is still a challenge.  Especially if you have growing kiddos that are big eaters!  It makes me realize how important the food pantry programs are.  Our local programs such as, Frisco Family Services, Fast Pacs, and Love Pacs are all instrumental in making sure that families have the food they need to give their families meals.  

We had a few ice days this past week, and I didn't think about it until yesterday that those kids who receive the Frisco Fast Pacs, which gives them food to have over the weekend, may have been going with very little to eat on Monday and Tuesday.  While some moms were complaining that they were ready for the kids to go back to school because they were driving them crazy, I am sure that some moms were praying their kids could go back to school, so they could have a decent meal to fill their little bellies.  It just broke my heart to think about.  

So this week has resulted in some some hunger, some whining, some thinking, and some prayer.  What am I going to do about it?  I have been a supporter of the Frisco Family Services and Fast Pacs for awhile, but on more of an urgent need basis.  When I get an email that there is low stock or and urgent need for an item, I may run out and get it if the budget allows.  Now I am feeling that there should be a budget for this to give regularly.  I have learned this past week that I really don't need as much food as I buy.  I don't need endless choices that end up resulting in thrown out food at the end of the week.  That money can go towards feeding someone else who may not be able to do so.  Would it be possible to eliminate urgent needs of food pantries if we all just took a few dollars out of our budget every week and gave more regularly?  Food for thought (yes pun intended).

It just so happens that our church is hosting a food drive for Love Pacs this Sunday (March 1st).

 Love Pacs is similar to Fast Pacs in that it provides food for kiddos that may not have it when they are not at school, but Love Pacs provides it for the school breaks (Spring Break, Winter Break, etc.), while Fast Pacs covers the weekends.  If you feel so led to help, you can bring donations up to First Frisco United Methodist Church this week or Sunday morning to help with this effort.  They are in need of the following easy to open/minimal cooking items:

Bread

Peanut Butter

Squeezable Jelly

Bag of cereal or individual boxes of cereal

Pop-top cans of veggies, meat, pasta, or soup

Fruit cups, cans of fruit, applesauce

Small boxes of raisins/dried fruit

Crackers (cheese or peanut butter)

Large box/bag of goldfish, animal crackers. or pretzels

Large bag of trail mix

They also accept the following hygiene items:

Laundry detergent

Toothpaste

Toothbrush

Deodorant
Shampoo
Body wash/soap

This is just a suggestion for a way to help.  I see it as no coincidence for me though.  I feel that this was put in my path this week for a reason.  I pray that you find what God puts in your path for you.  Until next time... :)

P.S. I felt obligated to add a comment on my one "cheat."  It is an annual tradition for my son and me to go to Chili's on a date and have molten lava cake while my husband and daughter go to the local Daddy Daughter dance.  I couldn't pass it up. ;)

I am already hungry

Ok, so it is day 1 of my Food fasting week, and I am already hungry! (And also already whiny.)  For those who are just tuning in, I have started the study, The 7 Experiment; Staging Your Own Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker.  I am hosting the study on the Breaking for Good facebook site, and we just finished the intro and reading week 1.  We each decided how we would go about our food fast, since no two have to be alike.

For some reason poverty in my own community has been on my heart recently.  I have been trying to be more involved with a group called Fast Pacs, which provides food over the weekend to children in the public schools here in Frisco.  It's hard to think that in such an affluent area that we have children, MANY children, who might go all weekend without a meal.  Frisco Fast Pacs literally packs grocery bags with donated food and gives them to the schools to send home with the kiddos on Fridays.  Last year my kiddos and I participated at a pack, and it was awesome to see many people coming together and giving up their time to make sure the kiddos don't have to go hungry.  In the past I have also worked with families that are at or below the poverty line.  Many of them struggling to work, take care of their kiddos, and make ends meet, it would just break my heart.  I realized that even at our "poorest" point, I never had to go through that.  This led me to choose my fast.  I looked up how much the SNAP (food stamps) amount would be for a single person in Texas. The monthly amount was $189.  I divided it by 4 (4 weeks) to get $47.25.  That became my food budget for the week.  I could not buy any more food/drink than that $47.25 would get me.

At first I thought it would be so easy!  It's just me eating, and I can shop smart.  Then I actually started shopping.  Got a couple soups that would each last me two meals, got some jugs of water (b/c yes I am a water snob), got coffee and creamer (b/c that is a staple people!), and went on to get the rest of my items.  What started off as so easy became harder and harder as the shopping trip went on. Keeping up with the prices of everything, and trying to make sure that I had somewhat of a balance with the food, it was making me a little crazy by the end.  I finally finished and rang out with $42.03.  I figured that gave me a dollar or two if I needed it later in the week.

Here was my stash at the end of the shopping trip.

I thought I had done pretty well until I realized...I had no snacks.  Luckily the cereal doubled well as a snack, but not quite the same.  Oh well.  Lunch was a tasty peanut butter and banana sandwich, and afternoon snack was a handful of cereal and an orange.  For dinner I had some of the soup and two pieces of dry toast.  Then I had another piece of bread...because I was still hungry!  That was a running theme today in that I ate, but it was always enough just to take the edge off.  I am used to being basically a glutton when I want, but today I had to walk the line of eating enough to give my body some fuel, but also remembering that this food has to last me all week.  

It was an interesting situation this evening, I was trying to figure out what to have after dinner before the last piece of bread.  Feeling frustrated and a little envious of my children who were chowing down on mango and chicken nuggets with ketchup at the dinner table, I thought of how silly it was.  While I have made this my fast for the week it is not my reality.  If I really wanted to just break down and have something else I could.  Then I thought this is really someone's reality.  Making the food last all week because it they ran out too soon there would b nothing left until the next week.  Having bare pantry and an empty refrigerator.  This overwhelming humbling feeling came over me as I thought of those people.  It gave me a chance to not only say thank you for what I have been blessed with, but also to pray for those who are truly hungry tonight, tomorrow and every night.  Those bellies that are not full.  The mamas who have to hear their kiddos cry about being hungry and not being able to give them anything to eat.  

It doesn't just humble me though it makes me want to spring to action.  What can I do?  What is my part in this?  God how do you want to move through me during this time?  I am already hungry...to hear your call. 

The 7 Experiment Starts tonight!!

I am so excited to start this journey with you!  This will be my first online study to participate in, let alone lead.  I am a little apprehensive, nervous, but mostly just ready to get started!
I came across Jen Hatmaker's study a few years ago at a local Christian bookstore.  I noticed the cover, and I thought this would be a neat book to read, but didn't get it at the time.  It stuck in my head though, and when someone in our Sunday school brought it up as a possible study a little over a year ago, I was all about it.  Once in the midst of it, it wasn't always fun or easy, but I absolutely loved it.
This is a great study to be starting post-New Year/Lent season, as it will cause you to really take inventory of the excess you have in your life and methods to start eliminating that.  I caution though that this study is what you make of it.  If you do this half-hardheartedly and not being honest with yourself, you might get something out of it, but you are cheating yourself  out of the full experience of really freeing yourself from the excess in your life that is weighing you down.  Another caution, as we will discuss our experiences on the FB page weekly, is that no one's experience will be the same.  No one's life is the same, so why should our experience be?  What is easy to give up for one person may be excruciating for someone else.  No judging, of others or yourself.
If you would like to join us for the study, please join the Breaking for Good Facebook group.  Just request an invite to the group, and I will approve it.  The group is closed for many reasons.
1. It provides a more private atmosphere to allow us to express our experiences without it going all over everyone's newsfeed who is not in the group.
2.  It also allows me to remove anyone who is abusing the group or mistreating anyone during discussion.
The study starts tonight at 7:30 with a live chat at the FB page above.  If you can't make it this week, no worries!  Just read the info from the chat tonight and get with us next week.
One more note be sure to buy the The 7 Experiment: staging YOUR OWN mutiny against excess.  This is different from the book Jen wrote about her personal experience.

Thank you and hope to see you there!